Research themes and publications

Mechanically assisted corrosion (MAC) encompasses the most dangerous forms of corrosion, including stress corrosion cracking, corrosion fatigue, tribocorrosion, and the various types of hydrogen embrittlement.
At the Curtin Corrosion Centre, we follow a holistic approach to investigate mechanically assisted phenomena, which links the alloy’s microstructure to the observed failure mechanism.

Although passive metals and alloys such as stainless steels, nickel-, aluminium, and titanium-alloys often present extremely low corrosion rates, they are often susceptible to localised corrosion in the form of, e.g., pits and crevices. In a given environment, localised corrosion resistance is highly influenced by alloy microstructure, not just composition, making the study of localised corrosion phenomena challenging.

Our team of researchers have gained international recognition in the field of localised corrosion of corrosion-resistant alloys, including stainless steels, nickel- and aluminium-alloys.

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is corrosion initiated, facilitated or accelerated by microorganisms and their metabolic functions. MIC is one of the most multidisciplinary fields in corrosion and material research, requiring corrosion, electrochemistry, microbiology, mathematics, modelling, and materials science competence. MIC affects many industries, including oil and gas, to defence, aerospace, infrastructure, and more.

Corrosion under insulation (CUI) is an insidious form of corrosion caused by water entrapped within thermal insulation. Common to many industries, but particularly challenging in chemical and petrochemical plants, CUI represents about 10% of the total cost maintenance and repair budgets.

Dissolved acid gases such as CO2 and H2S can lead to complex corrosion behaviour. Under certain conditions, robust protective films form, reducing corrosion rates drastically. However, different forms of localised attack often occur when the protective scales breakdown or when unstable films precipitate. Moreover, H2S is known to promote environmentally assisted cracking of carbon and low alloy steels, as well as many corrosion resistant alloys. Our researchers investigate all aspects of acid gas corrosion, from uniform corrosion modelling, corrosion prevention and monitoring, to environmentally assisted cracking.

Atmospheric corrosion is the most common corrosion phenomenon we experience in our daily lives. Atmospheric corrosion leads to the typical rust in outdoor exposures, but it can also result in catastrophic localised corrosion and mechanically assisted corrosion failures.

Even though the best approach to mitigate or eliminate corrosion risks is by selecting materials that will resist the most aggressive service conditions, this method might be cost-prohibitive in many situations. Corrosion protection strategies involve corrosion inhibitors, organic and inorganic coatings, as well as electrochemical protection.

Integrity management is vital to safeguard the life of assets as well as to minimise health, safety, and environmental risks. Adequate integrity management strategies must be applied systematically to maintain valuable assets in working conditions, so they remain fit-for-purpose. Our subject matter experts at the Curtin Corrosion Centre provide optimal solutions to decision makers.

Supported on the combination of industry and scholarly experience, our researchers in collaboration with international industry partners, design, build, and operate large-scale industrial processing plants, including a unique Mono-Ethylene Glycol (MEG) laboratory-scale regeneration and reclamation research facility, as well as a world-first liquified natural gas (LNG) regasification unit.